Sittings

Simon Hart: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North Essex of 13 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 290-91W, on sittings, how many building contracts on the Parliamentary Estate were  (a) cancelled and  (b) deferred as a result of the September sitting; what the monetary value of each contract was; and what estimate has been made of the cost to the House Service of cancellation or deferral.

Stuart Bell: No building contracts were cancelled as the reduced recess was planned for. Some projects which might have been included in the programme in a longer summer recess were not undertaken in the shorter recess, but only one, redecoration of the ceiling within the Shadow Cabinet Conference Room, is identifiable. This project was deferred but there was no cost to this deferral.

Housing Benefit

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects on the number of people declared homeless of the proposed changes to housing benefit entitlement in each of the next four years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the effect on local authority costs of fulfilling their statutory obligation to provide accommodation for families who have been made homeless of a reduction in housing benefit entitlements.

Grant Shapps: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published estimates of the numbers of households that will be affected by the changes to local housing allowance rates in 2011-12. However, it is not possible to estimate the number of households that will move as a consequence of the changes.
	A copy of the document 'Impacts of Housing Benefit proposals: Changes to the Local Housing Allowance to be introduced in 2011-12' has been placed in the Library of the House.

Social Rented Housing

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the proposed social rent level based on 80% of the market level will be applied in circumstances in which a social housing tenancy is created by assignment.

Andrew Stunell: Where a social tenant assigns a social rent tenancy, for example by way of mutual exchange, then the new tenant will continue to pay a social rent.

Prisons

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the provision of prison places in north Wales.

David Jones: Both my right hon. Friend and I have recently discussed the provision of prison places in north Wales with ministerial colleagues and we remain supportive of a new prison being built there.
	The Ministry of Justice is committed to publishing a Green Paper on rehabilitation and sentencing, and consulting on longer term plans for offender management. Following this the coalition Government will be in a position to evaluate our long-term strategy for prison capacity.
	We will continue to work closely with my hon. Friend, the Prisons Minister as decisions on the prison estate are made, to ensure that the implications for north Wales are fully taken into account.

Brazil: Fossil Fuels

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had recent discussions with the government of Brazil on fossil fuel subsidy reform.

Henry Bellingham: The issue of fossil fuel subsidy reform was discussed with the Government of Brazil during the Group of Twenty Summit in Toronto in June.

European Union

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with  (a) his European counterparts,  (b) the European Commission and  (c) others on the cost and number of European Union public bodies; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained, at Prime Minister Questions on 27 October 2010,  Official Report, column 309:
	'The greatest priority for Britain should be to fight very hard to get the EU budget under control. It is completely unacceptable, at a time when we are making tough budget decisions here, that we are seeing spending rise consistently in the European Union. I think that is wrong and I shall be doing everything I can to try to sort out the budget for next year, and also to look at the future financing of the European Union, where we want to see strict controls.'
	I raised these points most recently with my European counterparts during the General and Foreign Affairs Councils (GAC/FAC) on 25 October 2010 and will continue to do so at every opportunity.
	The EU Commission is also already working on an Inter-Institutional review of European Agencies which will focus on ways to encourage efficiency, transparency and value for money in their day-to-day functioning. We are closely involved in the consultation process of this review.

Criminal Records Bureau

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the inclusion of harassment warnings in Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) operates under part v of the Police Act 1997 (the 'Act'). The Act places a duty on the CRB (as the Secretary of State) to include details of all convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings that are recorded on the police national computer (PNC) on a certificate. The CRB will not routinely include harassment warnings on a CRB certificate unless it forms part of a disposal of a conviction/caution that is recorded on the PNC.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 8 September 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mr O. Uillah.

Damian Green: I apologise for the delay in replying to the letter of 8 September 2010. A reply should be provided to the hon. Member within the next 10 days.

Fuel Poverty

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the number of households living in fuel poverty in  (a) North West Durham constituency,  (b) the North East and  (c) the UK.

Gregory Barker: In 2006, the most recent year for which sub-regional figures are available, there were around 6,900 fuel poor households in the North West Durham constituency.
	In 2008, there were 236,000 fuel poor households in the north east and 4.5 million fuel poor households in the UK.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in her Department have been  (a) subject to disciplinary action,  (b) removed from post,  (c) transferred to another position and  (d) dismissed for matters relating to their (i) disciplinary record and (ii) performance in each year since 1997.

Richard Benyon: The tables show the number of staff subject to disciplinary and performance action in each of the last six years. Data prior to 2005-06 is not easily available and to obtain this information would be at a disproportionate cost.
	The tables show the number of staff subject to disciplinary or performance action and whether they were transferred or dismissed as a result of these actions. If staff are removed from post then this would result; in either their transfer or dismissal and these data are therefore included in those categories.
	The following information is provided for Core DEFRA and its Executive Agencies:
	
		
			  Table 1: Disciplinary action 
			   Number of staff subject to disciplinary action  Transferred to another post( 1)  Dismissed 
			 2010-11 25 1 3 
			 2009-10 69 1 6 
			 2008-09 58 4 5 
			 2007-08 43 2 12 
			 2006-07 50 0 20 
			 2005-06 34 1 11 
			 (1) Includes DEFRA and its Agencies except Rural Payments Agency (RPA) who could provide the data only at disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Performance action 
			   Number of staff subject to performance action  Transferred to another post( 1)  Dismissed 
			 2010-11 13 3 2 
			 2009-10 33 1 5 
			 2008-09 35 7 5 
			 2007-08 38 2 9 
			 2006-07 30 1 10 
			 2005-06 22 1 9 
			 (1) Includes DEFRA and its Agencies except RPA who could provide the data only at disproportionate cost.

Apprentices

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many apprentices were in post at  (a) Arts Council England and  (b) Sport England on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such apprentices recruited in the last 12 months (i) were previously apprentices, (ii) had been long-term unemployed and (iii) are graduates.

John Penrose: The Department does not collate this information.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of both bodies to respond directly to the hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire.
	Copies of the responses will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Contracts

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of quality management statements in assisting with contract decisions by his Department; and what assessment he has made of the effects on the prospects for small businesses of winning contracts of such statements.

John Penrose: When conducting procurement exercises the Department will normally make some assessment of quality management statements in the selection of suppliers as suitable bidders. However this assessment would only form a small part of the overall assessment as, in our opinion, quality management statements do not impact on the likely success of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) winning business. On average over the last three years approximately 30% of the Departments' business has gone to SMEs.

Gambling: Internet

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) occasional and  (b) frequent or habitual online gamblers in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what definition of  (a) occasional and  (b) habitual gambling his Department uses.

John Penrose: This Department and the Gambling Commission do not use the terms frequent or habitual to describe the gambling habits of individuals and do not record the information requested on that basis.
	The British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007, commissioned by the Gambling Commission, was undertaken better to understand the nature and scale of gambling in Great Britain. Data on trends of online gambling can therefore be found in the survey on the Gambling Commission's website at:
	http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/Britsh %20Gambling%20Prevalence%20Survey%202007%20-%20Sept%202007.pdf
	The third nationally representative survey of participation in gambling and the prevalence of problem gambling in Great Britain will be published in February 2011.

Gambling: Internet

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many new licences have been granted in the last five years for  (a) non-remote general betting (standard),  (b) non-remote general betting (limited),  (c) non-remote betting intermediary,  (d) non-remote pool betting,  (e) remote general betting (standard),  (f) remote betting (limited),  (g) remote betting intermediary,  (h) remote betting intermediary (trading rooms) and  (i) remote betting pools;
	(2)  how many online gambling sites are based in the UK;
	(3)  how many online gambling sites are based in  (a) white-listed countries and  (b) countries listed in the Gambling Act 2005 which advertise in the UK.

John Penrose: The Department does not collate this information.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of the Gambling Commission to write to the hon. Member for Hampshire East.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Charity Commission: Apprentices

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many apprentices were in post at the Charities Commission on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such apprentices recruited in the last 12 months  (a) were previously apprentices,  (b) had been long-term unemployed and  (c) are graduates.

Nick Hurd: This is a matter for the Charity Commission. I have, therefore, asked the chief executive of the commission to reply.
	 Letter from Sam Younger CBE:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on how many apprentices were in post at the Charity Commission on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such apprentices recruited in the last 12 months (a) were previously apprentices, (b) had been long-term unemployed and (c) are graduates.
	The Charity Commission does not employ any apprentices.
	I hope this is helpful.

Departmental Computer Software

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications for the Apple iPhone his Department has commissioned each company to create; and at what cost to the public purse those applications were created.

Simon Burns: The Department, through NHS Choices, has commissioned three iPhone applications.
	The first is a package of alcohol tools, including an iPhone application. The tools help individuals calculate the alcohol units in drinks, keeps a drinks diary and provides tailored messages about levels of drinking in order to support behavioural change. The package was launched on 1 December 2009. The iPhone application cost £10,000.
	The second is the NHS 'Quit Smoking' application, it provides hints and tips to manage cravings, keeps a running tally on how much money quitters have saved since they stopped smoking, tracks the number of days, hours and minutes since quitting and includes a direct link to the stop smoking helpline. The application was launched on 11 March 2010 and cost £10,000.
	The third is the World Cup/Football Fan Fitness Application. This is an online, Facebook and iPhone application providing a fitness assessment tool that aims to encourage adults to think about their health and become more physically active. The application was launched on 9 June 2010 to coincide with the World Cup and continues through the current football season. The iPhone Application element cost £9,000.

NHS

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has issued guidance to local authorities on the implications for them of the proposals in his Department's White Paper on Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS.

Paul Burstow: The Department's consultation on the Government's White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" closed on the 5 October, and the consultation on associated proposals for Increasing Democratic Legitimacy in Health, Transparency in Outcomes: A Framework, Commissioning for Patients and Regulating Healthcare Providers finished on 11 October. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultations. No formal guidance has been issued to local authorities, however, both Ministers and officials have been in discussions with representatives of local government about the proposals.

Pharmacy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made in developing the National Medicines Concordance Scheme.

Simon Burns: Discussions are continuing between NHS Employers (NHSE) and Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on potential community pharmacy service developments, such as support for people with a long-term condition newly prescribed a medicine.
	Departmental officials have asked NHSE to submit revised proposals, reflecting the coalition Government's strategy for health and care, including as set out in the recent White Paper. We have made clear that any additional investment in service developments will need to be supported by a robust business case and be informed by the comprehensive spending review.

Financial Services Authority

Dominic Raab: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the conduct of the Financial Services Authority in monitoring the activities of Crown Currency Exchange under the provisions of regulation 81 of the Payment Services Regulations 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The day to day operations of the Financial Services Authority are independent from Government control and influence.
	The Financial Services Authority (FSA) does not regulate retail foreign currency exchange services. So the FSA did not regulate in any way the foreign currency exchange business of Crown Currency Exchange.
	The Government will look at this case to see what lessons can be learned for the future.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department plans to respond to the letters of 9 August and 29 September 2010 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on his constituent Mr J. Lowe.

David Gauke: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when his Department plans to respond to the letters of 17 August and 29 September 2010 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on his constituent Ms L. Keeble;
	(2)  when his Department plans to respond to the letters of 13 August and 29 September 2010 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on his constituent Mrs A. Black.

Mark Hoban: I have replied to my hon. Friend.

Public Expenditure

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2010,  (a) how many,  (b) for what period of time and  (c) at what cost to his Department staff were re-deployed temporarily to work on the Spending Challenge in July and August 2010.

Danny Alexander: As set out in my answer of 11 October the number of staff deployed on and contributing to the spending challenge in July and August 2010 varied depending on the particular requirements of the spending challenge at any one time. For those staff who were involved in the spending challenge while also taking forward other roles I am afraid I can provide no further information as no record was made of the specific amount of time they devoted to the spending challenge alongside their other work.
	In terms of staff being temporarily redeployed from other roles in the Treasury to devote the majority of their time to the spending challenge this comprised two Treasury Range Es (Grade 7) and one Treasury Range D (HEO). Based on the estimated average costs to the Department of employing these staff the staff costs incurred by the Treasury over July and August would stand at £27,666, all covered from within existing budgets.
	As set out alongside the spending review implementing ideas generated through the spending challenge will enable Government to save millions of pounds ever year, far outweighing any costs imposed by the exercise.

Children: Maintenance

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Shipley of 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 586, on child maintenance, what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission on a target for the collection of child maintenance payment arrears.

Maria Miller: The Government are considering the role that the child maintenance system can play in its overall commitment to support shared parenting and promote parental responsibility. In this context, and that of the spending review, the Department is in discussion with the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission about a target for the collection of arrears.

Employment Schemes: North East

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to provide  (a) training and  (b) employment opportunities for people in the North East under the age of 25 years who have been unemployed for more than six months.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has lead responsibility for the provision of training and skills in England. BIS published a consultative version of its strategy paper "Skills for Sustainable Growth" in July 2010 which outlined their vision for an effective skills strategy. The final paper will be available in November and its results will factor into BIS's decisions to develop their skills strategy for the future. BIS Ministers see providing skills support to Jobcentre Plus customers, including young people who are unemployed, as a priority.
	There are also regional programmes which specifically address local skills and employment needs. Skills North East is the regional employment and skills partnership which invests in the development of skills to enhance the chances of those unemployed to gain employment.
	The Government aim to have the new Work programme in place nationally by the summer of 2011. This will help young people move into sustained employment rather then temporary jobs, and everyone, including young people, will have access to a fully integrated and coherent system of back to work support for the first time. We are planning further support for young people, including intensive work experience, more apprenticeships and more further education places.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from what local authorities he has received representations on local housing allowance and housing benefits since June 2010; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence with each such local authority.

Steve Webb: A search of correspondence addressed to Department for Work and Pensions Ministers has shown that the following local authorities have made representations following the June 2010 Budget announcements where the subject is recorded as local housing allowance or housing benefit.
	Barrow Borough Council
	Brent Council
	Brighton and Hove City Council
	Gwynedd Council
	Hounslow Council
	London Borough of Newham
	South Worcestershire-Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District-(shared services)
	Westminster City Council
	Copies of the correspondence will be placed in the Library.
	Other similar letters and representations may have been received, but recorded under different subjects, or not recorded on the system.
	We have also consulted formally with the local authority associations on the reform proposals.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department plans to respond to the letters of 23 August and 30 September 2010 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on his constituent Mr M. Allison.

Chris Grayling: The Minister for Welfare Reform replied to the hon. Member's letters on 18 October 2010 (our reference: POS(4)10330/224). I have arranged for a copy to be sent to him.

Social Security Benefits

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an estimate of the number of residents of each local authority area in Scotland who are likely to be affected by the proposed time limit on the payment of employment and support allowance.

Chris Grayling: As part of the spending review announcement, we have set out our intention to introduce a time limit of one year for those claiming contributory employment and support allowance and who are placed in the work related activity group. All other groups claiming employment and support allowance are not affected by this measure.
	Estimates of the numbers affected by time limiting are not available by local authority area.

Social Security Benefits: Fines

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms will be put in place for benefit claimants who wish to dispute fines levied for not informing the relevant agency of a change of circumstances.

Chris Grayling: On 18 October, the Department published its new strategy to tackle fraud and error in the benefit and tax credits system. The strategy announced the introduction of a new £50 civil penalty for those individuals who fail to take reasonable care of their claim, or who knowingly let a change in circumstance run on while incurring an overpayment.
	There will be a clear appeals process in place so that claimants can disagree against the overpayment decision and also against the decision to instigate a penalty. The claimant will be given full details how to undertake their appeals and the timescales within which they may do so.
	The penalty is intended to deter negligent behaviour and increase personal responsibility for keeping claims correct.
	A copy of the full strategy can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/tackling-fraud-and-error.pdf

Winter Fuel Payments: British Nationals Abroad

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the cost to the public purse was of payment of the winter fuel allowance to pensioners living in Spain in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the average annual cost to the public purse of payment of the winter fuel allowance to pensioners who are not domiciled in the UK.

Steve Webb: In 2009-10, the most recent date for which information is available, expenditure on winter fuel payments paid to people living in Spain is estimated to be £7 million.
	Expenditure on winter fuel payments paid to people living in the European economic area and Switzerland in 2009-10, the most recent date for which information is available, was £15 million. This represents less than 1% of the total expenditure on winter fuel payments.
	 Note
	The distribution of the different levels of payment in Spain is assumed to be the same as that for the European economic area, as country-level information about distribution of payment amounts is not available.
	 Source
	DWP Statistical and Accounting Data

Females: Low Incomes

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities pursuant to the contribution to the Minister for Equalities of 6 September 2010,  Official Report, column 152, in the adjournment debate on public expenditure reduction (women), what the evidential basis is that  (a) the Library's analysis of the Budget's impact on women was (i) biased and (ii) not robust and  (b) the Library research makes an extreme assumption that no income is shared; and what assumptions about (A) family structures and (B) how resources are shared within a household the Government made before the Budget.

Lynne Featherstone: Any analysis of tax and welfare changes by gender must make assumptions about how resources are shared within the household.
	Sharing of resources within the household will mean that although a benefit is received by a particular person in the household, the full impact does not fall on that person because the resource is shared with their partner and/or children. Taking account of this kind of income pooling is very difficult, as data and research in this area is sparse. Households share their resources in different ways-some will have no income pooling; some will share some income while others will share all their income. To analyse the impact of Budget decisions by gender, assumptions must be made about the extent to which resources are shared.
	The House of Commons Library has chosen to assume no income pooling in their research. While I accept that this assumption was chosen without political bias, it is an extreme assumption, and is unlikely to represent the way most households share resources. The results of the analysis depend heavily on the assumption that there is no household sharing, and should be interpreted accordingly recognising that a different choice of income pooling assumption would give different results. The analysis only includes selected measures, such as the abolition of the Health in Pregnancy grant, and excludes others, for example, the council tax freeze. Therefore the coverage can only be partial.
	In producing the analysis in annex A of the June 2010 Budget document, the Treasury based its assumptions about family structures on the Expenditure and Food Survey, and factors supplied by the Office for National Statistics. The Budget analysis was produced at a household level, and therefore assumptions around resource sharing would have no direct impact on the analysis presented.

Armed Forces: Housing

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the  (a) value for money and  (b) transparency of arrangements for letting subcontracts made by his Department's prime contractors; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: It is the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s policy to encourage competition at subcontract level. Prime contractors are required to do this and advertise opportunities in the MOD Defence Contracts Bulletin, where appropriate. The MOD and industry have agreed principles that should be observed in the flow down of standard terms and conditions of contract at lower tiers in the supply chain.
	As part of our Green Paper on Defence Industry and Technology, to be published before the end of the year, we will be consulting on the role of small and medium sized businesses in defence acquisition.

Business: Bexleyheath

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to increase access to finance for businesses in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency.

Mark Prisk: The coalition Government have articulated their ambition to ensure the flow of credit to viable SMEs. Our consultation on business finance issues, "Financing a private sector recovery" closed on the 20 September, and received many responses from a wide range of firms, business representative bodies, individuals and investors. We are currently considering the Government's response which will be given shortly.
	There are various measures already in place to support access to finance for SMEs. I aim to continue to support and improve the diversity of sources and access to finance for SMEs that meet their needs. Such sources of finance available to SMEs including those in your constituency of Bexleyheath and Crayford were announced by the Chancellor in the budget:
	A £200 million extension to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG), to benefit around 2,000 extra small businesses. In total, the EFG will now support up to £700 million in bank lending to viable small businesses. As at the 20 October, 10 businesses in the constituency of Bexleyheath and Crayford have been offered and have drawn down loans totalling £0.72 million.
	A new Enterprise Capital Fund to support small businesses with high growth potential-combining both Government and private sector funding.
	Confirmation of a Growth Capital Fund, to provide funding of between £2 million and £10 million for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with strong growth potential.

Business: Females

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what programmes his Department has in the higher education system to encourage women entrepreneurs; and how much his Department spent on each such programme  (a) nationally and  (b) in the West Midlands in the latest year for which figures are available.

Mark Prisk: The Department funds the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) to provide programmes in the higher education system that encourage entrepreneurs. "Make it Happen" and "Flying Start" are the two programmes that promote entrepreneurship to students and graduates. The total grant in aid allocated for the NCGE was £1.824 million in 2009/10 and is £900,000 in 2010/11 (subject to finalisation of the organisation's business plan and ministerial agreement).
	NCGE is continuing to support young people who joined "Make It Happen" last year. Of these, 1,875 are women entrepreneurs (46% of total numbers), and 117 of those women entrepreneurs are based in the West Midlands (6% of the total).
	NCGE ran two of its three-day "Flying Start" programmes specifically for female students during the last financial year. 60 women attended these sessions.
	The Department does not hold figures aggregating the proportion of funding for "Make It Happen" and "Flying Start" that was spent on women only.

Groceries Supply Code of Practice

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he Department has taken to introduce a body to monitor and enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.

Edward Davey: The coalition statement commits the Government to introduce the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). The Government response of 3 August set out how we would take this forward:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/business-law/docs/competition-matters/10-1011-groceries-supply-code-practice-government-response.pdf
	We now have approval to publish a draft Bill in the first session of this Parliament. This will be undertaken as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Higher Education: Costs

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the cost of studying as an  (a) undergraduate and  (b) postgraduate at a university in (i) London and (ii) outside London; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The 'Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2007/08', published on 21 April 2009, provided estimates of the expenditure of higher education students attending higher education institutions and further education colleges in England and Wales.
	The following table shows the average and median expenditure of full-time undergraduate students according to whether they were studying in London or outside London, and includes a breakdown of living, housing, participation and child care expenses.
	The 2007/08 study covered a mixture of students to whom the pre and post-2006/07 student support arrangements applied, thus 61% of the full-time student-sample were subject to variable fees of up to £3,225, and 39% were under the previous arrangements.
	Differing maintenance loan levels apply for students according to whether they live in London or elsewhere, however these also take account of whether the individual lives independently, or at home with their parents.
	
		
			  Expenditure of full-time undergraduate students, by whether living in London or elsewhere 
			  £ 
			Living in London  Living elsewhere 
			 Living costs(1) Mean 6,663 6,469 
			  Median 5,358 5,279 
			  Standard error(2) 424 242 
			 
			 Housing costs(1) Mean 2,446 2,457 
			  Median 2,208 2,161 
			  Standard error(2) 183 134 
			 
			 Participation costs(3) Mean 3,271 3,132 
			  Median 3,330 3,235 
			  Standard error(2) 145 49 
			 
			 Spending on children(1) Mean 115 158 
			  Median - - 
			  Standard error(2) 42 23 
			 
			 Estimated total expenditure(1) Mean 12,495 12,216 
			  Median 11,395 10,770 
			  Standard error(2) 615 280 
			 
			 Unweighted count - 228 1,565 
			 (1) Figures adjusted for joint financial responsibility where relevant.  (2) The standard error measures the extent to which we expect the sample mean can differ from the population mean. Plus or minus two standard errors usually provides a 95% confidence limit: that is, we can be 95% confident that the 'true' value lies within that range.  (3) Participation costs include spending on tuition fees, travel to/from university, expenditure on books and equipment, and study related child care.  Base: All English-domiciled students.   Source:  NatCen/IES SIES 2007/08.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the contiguity of proposed local enterprise partnership areas with county boundaries.

Mark Prisk: No specific guidance has been issued to local authorities on the contiguity of proposed local enterprise partnership areas with county boundaries. In the joint letter that my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Communities and Local Government sent to local authorities and businesses on 29 June they expressed concerns that some local and regional boundaries do not reflect functional economic areas. The letter encouraged partnerships to better reflect the natural economic geography of the areas they serve and hence to cover real functional economic and travel to work areas.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to reply to the letter dated 1 June 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Eleanor Massey, transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Edward Davey: I apologise for the delay in replying. I will reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

Motorways and Major Trunk Roads Programme

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Highways Agency has for the future of its Motorways and Major Trunk Roads programme.

Philip Hammond: I refer the hon. Lady to my oral statement "Investment in Highways and Local Transport Schemes" made in the House on 26 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 177-79 and the supporting details entitled "Investment in Highways Transport Schemes" placed in the Library of the House on the same day.

Cycling

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department  (a) is undertaking and  (b) plans to undertake on measures to improve cyclists' safety.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport commissioned a research project looking at a range of road safety and cycling issues in August 2008 which has examined the following topics:
	Road user safety and cycling data
	Cycling infrastructure
	Attitudes and behaviours
	Bicycle helmets.
	To date the Department has published three reports:
	Collisions involving cyclists on Britain's roads: Establishing the causes (December 2009)
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/ppr445.pdf
	The potential for cycle helmets to prevent injury: A review of the evidence (December 2009)
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/ppr446.pdf
	Cycling, safety and sharing the road: Qualitative research with cyclists and other road users (September 2010)
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/researchreport/
	A report on infrastructure and cycle safety is in progress.

Cycling

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence his Department holds on the effect of helmet promotion campaigns on the level of cycle use.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport commissioned a research project looking at a range of road safety and cycling issues in August 2008. This includes a strand of research focussing on cycle helmets. An initial review of the literature on road safety and cycling revealed a lack of robust and reliable evidence on the effect of cycle helmets on the behaviour of cyclists and other road users. An exploration of road users' views on possible interventions to improve driver and rider behaviour was undertaken within the qualitative research task. The report for this work was published in September 2010 and is available via the Department's website.
	Cycling, safety and sharing the road: Qualitative research with cyclists and other road users (September 2010):
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/researchreport/

Cycling: Railways

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans he has to provide financial support to  (a) train operating companies and  (b) Network Rail for the integration of cycling and rail travel after April 2011;
	(2)  if he will take steps to require rail franchisees to provide space for cycles  (a) at railway stations and  (b) on new or refurbished rolling stock;
	(3)  if he will take steps to require  (a) rail franchisees and  (b) Network Rail to (i) consult on and (ii) monitor the effectiveness of measures to combine cycling and rail travel.

Theresa Villiers: The Government recognise the importance of investing in station improvements and is committed to facilitating this investment through reforms to the way the railways are run.
	We will grant longer rail franchises in order to give train operators the incentive to invest in the improvements passengers want including better cycle facilities at stations. We will also be considering options to alter the balance of responsibility for stations between Network Rail and the train operators.
	It is a commercial consideration for the individual train operating companies to provide storage space for cycles on their trains. It is not for the Department to dictate how many cycle spaces an operator should provide but we do encourage train operators to accommodate folding bicycles at all times.
	The Station Travel Plan pilot scheme being run by the rail industry aims to encourage passengers to travel to and from the station by more sustainable means. It is considering provision of cycle storage facilities at stations and safe cycle routes to stations.

EU Law

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he made of the cost to his Department and its non-departmental public bodies of compliance with  (a) domestic,  (b) European and  (c) other international human rights requirements in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not collate information on the costs of compliance with human rights requirements or the benefits that accrue. The Department takes account of the domestic and international human rights framework in developing all its policies and practices, as it does other relevant legal obligations; an accurate estimate of the total cost of compliance with human rights obligations could not be made without incurring disproportionate cost.

Road Safety: Finance

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department  (a) has allocated and  (b) plans to allocate to road safety in the financial year 2010-11; and how much was allocated in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.

Michael Penning: The UK has the safest roads in Europe and the Government wish to ensure that we maintain that position. However, the Government have made clear that their urgent priority is to tackle the UK's record deficit in order to restore confidence in our economy and support the recovery. As a contribution to the in-year spending reductions as part of our programme to address the record deficit, we have reduced the planned level of road safety grant in 2010-11. At the same time, local authorities were given greater freedom and flexibility in the management of their finances and the use of grant funding streams. Therefore, the fact that this grant has been reduced does not mean that the Government necessarily expect local authorities to reduce their road safety spending by a similar proportion. It is for local authorities and local communities to determine the priorities for their areas. The Department currently forecasts allocating £76.5 million towards dedicated road safety programmes and administration in 2010-11. It allocated £145.0 million in 2008/09 and £143.1 million in 2009-10 towards comparable activities.
	These totals include the road safety funding stream in area based grant and the specific road safety grant. Other items included are expenditure on THINK! campaigns, road safety research and statistics, vehicle safety and related administration.
	These totals do not include expenditure by the Department's agencies, nor do they include funding support for other organisations used in part for, but not dedicated to, road safety (for example the integrated transport funding for local authorities and the block grant for Transport for London).

Thameslink

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  by what date he expects 24 trains an hour to be running on the Thameslink route between Kings Cross and Blackfriars;
	(2)  to which phases of the Thameslink programme his Department has not committed funding;
	(3)  by what date he expects the Thameslink infrastructure and rolling stock programme to have been completed;
	(4)  by what date he expects delivery of the last unit of 12-carriage Thameslink rolling stock to have been completed;
	(5)  what capital expenditure he plans to allocate to new Thameslink rolling stock from its proposed budgets under the 2010 Spending Review.

Theresa Villiers: As set out in the spending review on 20 October, the Government are still finalising their position regarding a number of rail projects-including Thameslink. An announcement is expected to be made shortly.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable has been set for purchasing new rolling stock for the Thameslink upgrade.

Theresa Villiers: As set out in the spending review on the 20 October, the Government are still finalising their position regarding a number of rail projects including Thameslink. An announcement will be made shortly.

Academies

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons academies are not required to  (a) have regard to the local Children and Young People Plan,  (b) promote the well-being of pupils and  (c) promote community cohesion.

Nick Gibb: Academies are currently required to have regard to the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) in the same way as maintained schools. However, the Government intend-subject to parliamentary approval-to withdraw the regulations requiring CYPPs to be prepared.
	Academies have a very important role in promoting the well-being of their pupils and we trust the governors to exercise their functions with the aim of promoting their pupils' well-being, responding to local circumstances and the wishes of their parents.
	Finally in relation to community cohesion, one of the conditions of grant in the model Funding Agreement is that the Academy will be
	"at the heart of its community, promoting community cohesion and sharing facilities with other schools and the wider community".
	Academies are therefore required to promote community cohesion as part of their Funding Agreement which includes the right of the Secretary of State to call for information on their outreach work with other schools and the local community.

Departmental Responsibilities

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the remit is of the Children's Rights and Participation team in the Health and Well-being Division of his Department; and how many staff were employed in that division in the last 12 months.

Sarah Teather: The Children's Rights and Participation team currently consist of three full-time and one part-time staff. Its current remit is to promote and support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in England through government policy, and to coordinate UK-wide reports on progress to the UN Committee. It oversees activity to support the involvement of children and young people in decision-making centrally and locally, and is the policy sponsor for the Office of the Children's Commissioner for England.

Special Educational Needs

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future of the statementing process for children with special educational needs. [R]

Sarah Teather: holding answer 25 October 2010
	The Government have made clear that they want to make the special educational needs system, including the statementing process, less adversarial and bureaucratic and for it to provide a more comprehensive service for families. A Green Paper on special educational needs and disability, which we aim to publish later this year, will set out the Government's vision for the future of special educational needs.

Teachers Pensions

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools not in receipt of funding from his Department have members who make contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 21 October 2010
	Membership of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) is automatically available to teachers in maintained schools, FE establishments, post 1992 universities, free schools and academies. Independent schools can apply for admission to the TPS in respect of their teaching staff. Currently 1,488 independent schools have teachers who are members of the TPS.

Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to implement the provisions of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

Jonathan Djanogly: In my written statement of 14 October 2010, columns 37-38WS, I set out that I would commence provisions in Part 1 (Coroners) of the Act which would enable operational problems facing coroners to be tackled. This will include making it simpler to transfer cases from one coroner to another, and removing rigid boundary restrictions on where post-mortem examinations may be carried out. The aim is to implement these provisions by April 2012 at the latest. I also set out that provisions requiring the appointment of a chief coroner would either not be implemented or that certain key functions may be transferred to another body. These key functions might include oversight of training for coroners and their staff, and direction that responsibility for a case is transferred either to a judge or to another coroner. The timescale for this transfer of functions will depend on parliamentary progress of both the Public Bodies Bill, in which the office of chief coroner will be abolished, and the subsequent affirmative order which will set out to which body or bodies the chief coroner's powers are to be transferred. It is likely therefore that it will take longer than April 2012 to implement these provisions.

Judges: Public Appointments

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what mechanisms are in place to ensure transparency in respect of judicial appointments; what lists are maintained of judicial candidates; what steps are taken to inform applicants of their position on those lists; and on what criteria applications for judicial posts are determined.

Kenneth Clarke: Recommendations for judicial appointments are made to me (as Lord Chancellor) by the independent Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) for England and Wales. The JAC selects candidates for judicial office on merit, through fair and open competition, from the widest range of eligible candidates. The JAC selects candidates either for immediate appointment, or when requested to do so by the Ministry of Justice under section 94 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (CRA), for future vacancies. All selection exercises are publicly advertised.
	The JAC maintains a database of candidate applications. These are used for the administration of the selection process, quality assurance and for statistical and research purposes. If the JAC receives a request under section 94 of the CRA to select candidates for future vacancies, it maintains a record of such candidates.
	No steps are taken to inform applicants of their position. Where candidates are considered for a vacancy request made under section 94 of the CRA they are informed if they are considered to be selectable. When a specific vacancy arises the JAC considers those people who were previously considered suitable for appointment and makes a recommendation on merit.
	Most judicial posts require that a candidate has a statutory qualification to be eligible to apply. The JAC selects candidates solely on merit and only people of good character and assesses merit against a set of qualities and abilities, available on their website at:
	http://www.judicialappointments.gov.uk/application-process/112.htm

Offenders: Women

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on the needs of women offenders.

Crispin Blunt: I have recently had discussions with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities on the needs of women offenders. The Government are committed to diverting women away from crime and tackling women's offending. We are taking forward an approach to provide effective alternatives to remands for the courts with new women's enhanced bail provision and effective community sentences using the expertise of voluntary sector through women's community projects. The aim is to meet the distinct and complex needs of women which are linked to their offending.